SPPRAKing Moore OK

Today's blog? All about SPPRAKing Moore OK. SPPRAK has been invited to share the “Be Part of the SPPRAK Pack” program with the schools in Moore OK. After the devastating tornados on May 20, 2013, SPPRAK asked ourselves what we could do to help. Because of the schools and children and families that were affected that day, it made sense to share the program that has been so successful in the Vigo County Schools. This brings us to our latest “fun” raiser! SPPRAK and the Terre Haute Rex have teamed up for a day of family fun! The event, called SPRRAK Moore, OK, will take place at Bob Warn Field, which is the home of our Terre Haute Rex Prospect baseball team. There are vendors and events scheduled for family entertainment, along with the Battle of the Shield ball game between the Terre Haute Police Dept and Terre Haute Fire Fighters. The Terre Haute K-9 Unit will be doing a demonstration, and the Terre Haute Rex have a double header with games at 1 and 7. It promises to be a great day!

One of SPPRAK's goals for this event is to have the people of Terre Haute and surrounding area share words of encouragement with the Moore OK school children, staff and families. There will be a banner near the entrance that day, along with post it notes, for this purpose. There will also be students from Terre Haute North Vigo sharing what the banner has meant to them.

Please consider coming out and helping to SPPRAK Moore with us, not only will you see a great game with the REX, have some fun with your family, you will be part of helping a community heal, you don't even have to leave town!

Below are current pictures from Moore, OK. Still so much work to be done.

This is where Plaza School Elementary once was.

 A neighborhood in Moore, OK.

Different direction blog...

Taking this week's blog in a little different direction! We are going to talk about dreams.

You might want to check out these couple of books written by Jon Acuff: Quitter and Start. Quitter tells you how to quit your day job and live the job of your dreams, and Start gets you going. Both books are big in the SPPRAK world. Our dream and goal is to spread kindness, to make our community a better place. We are excited every day to talk about SPPRAK, and spread the SPPRAK philosophy to everyone we meet. And some we won't ever meet!

Here is an example of part of our journey, the short version:

Read Quitter, book by Jon Acuff.

Attended Jon Acuff’s workshop of same name (well, two SPPRAKers did!). That started some excitement about the SPPRAK goals and gave us a big picture mentally.

Attended book launch for Start: well, we got started! You can plan and plot and make goals all you want but until you START you’re STUCK!

Launched “Be Part of the SPPRAK Pack” program: our philosophy in action!

NBC Nightly News picks up the story and BAM across the nation we go!

We have not gotten to quit our day jobs, still working at those! But we have made HUGE strides toward our goal to spread the SPPRAK word. “Be Part of the SPPRAK Pack” is our latest project toward that goal. Over the last four years we have done many “FUN” raisers and other projects within our community. A few of them have been to help people in other communities. Like many of you are probably also finding out, to reach your dream you will have many steps along the way.

We have also gotten to witness a few dreamers realize their dreams too.  Jon Acuff, START makes the best seller list. Sheri Bertolini writes “My Intentional Life” and starts workshops of the same name. How about you? Want to share your dream with us? Trust us, we will not laugh, we believe in those dreams that make you sweat, that make your heart beat fast and bring on that butterfly feeling! Those are the dreams that you should be dreaming! Feel free to leave your comment!  

NBC Nightly News and SPPRAK

It has been a week since our SPPRAK Pack national debut on the NBC Nightly News. In case you missed it here is the link: nbcnews.com, and some additional footage from their website that didn't make the news but includes interviews worth watching: nbcnews.com web only video clip. When we started this project we did not know that it would gain national attention. It was just something simple to get students and staff  involved in acts of kindness. Teachers, principals and students alike have gotten on board the Be Part of the SPPRAK Pack Program. Simple gestures such as opening a door or tying someone’s shoes for them can change their day and make it brighter. While it is too soon to tell the success our project will have on a broad scale, we know we have made an impact. There is a universal appeal to children being kind. The students that were interviewed, and all that participate daily in the program, are so optimistic, and give us hope for the future. People from across the country (and some from outside our country) have contacted us for additional information. They want the chance to make a difference for the children in their community. What is it they say? And a child shall lead them? Watch the clips and you will hear from Martin, age 6 and a half and one-quarter, why being kind is important. And become part of the SPPRAK Pack! 

Guest Post: Sheri Bertolini

Today we have a guest blogger, our first! Sheri Bertolini of My Intentional Life fame, has kindly agreed to post. Enjoy! .

I’m normally the assistant at work but that day I was in charge of the bookstore. I was spiffing up the displays when three women came in. I greeted them and realized immediately they were different. They were fun, happy, bubbly, and encouraging. We fell into easy conversation and before they left, we had exchanged stories, laughter, business cards, and hopes of seeing each other again.

I had no idea that we’d connect again, in ways I had not imagined.

What I knew of SPPRAK (Special People Performing Random Acts of Kindness) was very little, at first. I knew they were on a mission—to change the culture of their community through kindness. They were three women from Terre Haute, Indiana.

I was writing my first book. I had a vision for teaching women how to build a value-based culture in their homes, and then organize it accordingly. I was one woman living in Franklin, Tennessee.

A few tweets, lots of posts, and number of Facebook “likes” later...

My book was about to be published so I did some giveaways as part of my book launch countdown. Robin ended up winning one of my books.

And then I got the email: “Would you consider coming to Terre Haute to do a seminar about your book?” My first invitation! I was thrilled, and had no clue I was about to be “SPPRAKed.” Putting us all together in the same room for a day was like a hope makeover on steroids. I walked away as encouraged as the seminar attendees, because SPPRAK their poured into hearts into all of us.

Four women living in different states, hundreds of miles apart. All doing what we love, pursuing our visions for making a difference. After a few emails, texts, and one Skype conversation, our shared hearts of compassion created a bond that doesn’t require living in the same city. The passion of our joint dream -- to help others -- multiplied instead of doubling.

One plus three doesn’t equal four. Not in God’s kingdom, anyway.

One plus three equals endless opportunity.

Pay attention to chance meetings. Listen to the nudges you find in new connections and friendships. You never know how God may weave hearts and opportunities together that will make a difference for many.

And you.

MIL Workshop with Author Sheri Bertolini!

SPPRAK is sponsoring a workshop featuring author and speaker, Shei Bertolini! She is the author of a little book called My Intentional Life, featured at the workshop of the same name. SPPRAK is very excited about bringing her to Terre Haute on April 27^th. The workshop is 9 to 4, and tickets are just $39. Don't wait for the day of the workshop though, tickets may not be available! A copy of her book is included in the ticket price, and the women's group at the church will be providing lunch for a donation, so no one even has to leave the building. Oh, and did I mention door prizes? This is being held at Mount Pleasant Church, 3050 Davis Drive. All the details are on a facebook event here:  (https://www.facebook.com/events/425557034203063/). 

Are you wondering if this is something worth your time? Maybe you have small children, or no children, or just married, not married, share your home with roommates, live alone, empty nesters, well you get the idea! This workshop is for everyone! Here is a short youtube trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOR_7GjU7RQ). And some of what you will learn:

• Who you are and where you're headed
• What's important to you – your values and passions
• How to kick guilt to the curb
• How to find self-control at the checkout counter
• How to organize and create calm where there was chaos
• How to change the culture in your home, bringing you joy, and offering visitors a glimpse of who you are
• Much, much more

Having read her book, we can say that for sure, there is a lot to this little book and the author, Sheri who has a heart for helping people organize their life! Oh, and she is a professional organizer, check out her website: sheribertolini.com.  

Welcome to our blog! Come visit to see what is going on with SPPRAK! The last few weeks have been crazy! Our SPPRAK PACK program in the Vigo County Schools has begun, and in the process attracted a lot of attention! There are so many people, and businesses that have shown their faith and belief in what SPPRAK is trying to do, spread kindness through our schools and our community! The goal with this project is to change the culture of our schools, one kind word at a time! Check out the launch here: (http://mywabashvalley.com/fulltext?nxd_id=295712 ) and (http://www.wthitv.com/dpp/news/local/group-hopes-to-encourage-good-deeds ) WOW is all we can say right now, but there will be more to come! While we are waiting for the official announcement of that BIG news, how about you sharing your story with us? Our SPPRAK group is looking for your story, a kindness that was done by you or for you! Don't have a story? Well, what a great day to make one! You are in charge of the kindness shown to others, it can even be a family project! We hope the links work, you can also Google us, the stories are right there along with more information about what we do!

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